PETUNIA, Nat. Ord. Solanacetz. 



Just fifty years ago, the White Petunia was found by a botanical explorer in South America, at 

 the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. For seven years the florists of Europe were delighted with this 



poor, white flower, when a Purple Petunia was discovered 

 in Brazil. Since that time, 1830, the improvement of this 

 flower has been constant. About fifteen years since the floral 

 world were surprised by the announcement of a double white 

 Petunia. It was only semi-double, but now we have them well 

 doubled, of all colors, and as large as any one can wish. Seed 

 sown in the spring will produce flowering plants in June that 

 will continue to bloom abundantly until frost, and may be 

 8[ sown in a cold-frame or hot-bed, or in the open ground. Set 

 the plants about eighteen inches apart. They come pretty true 

 from seed, though not reliable in this respect, being inclined 

 to sport. The Petunia as at present cultivated embraces three 

 distinct classes. The grandiflora varieties make quite a strong, 

 succulent growth, and the stems and leaves are sticky to the 

 touch. These bear a few very large, magnificent flowers, often 

 from three to four 

 inches across. They 

 bear but few seeds 

 and these are obtain- 

 ed at great expense of 

 labor. In the open 

 ground they give no 



seed, so plants for seed must be grown in pots on stages, 

 sheltered from rain and dews, and fertilization is accom- 

 plished by hand, the pollen being distributed with the 

 aid of a camel-hair brush. Of course, seed obtained in 

 this way is always expensive, but the wonderful size 

 and the richness of the coloring well repays the cost. 

 In this class we have a Fringed Petunia, new and 

 unique. The Double Petunia gives no seed, and those V 

 that will produce double flowers are obtained by fertiliz- 

 ing single flowers with the pollen of the double, in 

 the manner previously described. The third class is t|^ 

 small flowered varieties. The plants are of a slender, 

 wiry growth, but cover a good deal of ground. They 

 bear an immense number of flowers, from early summer 

 until frost, and seed freely in the open ground. A well filled circular bed, six feet in diameter, 

 will display continually, without a day's intermission, thousands of flowers. We know of no 

 annual, and but few flowers of any kind, that will make a more brilliant bed. Our engravings 

 show one of the small-flowered varieties of natural size, and a double flower much reduced. 



PHAGELIA, Nat. Ord. Hydrophyllace<z. 



The Phacelias are hardy annuals, very much resembling the Eutocas, and, we believe, all 

 natives of America. Most of the varieties are blue, though there are some white. This flower 

 V, ,. does not really possess much merit, though pretty fair as a border 



plant, and good for bouquet making. We only 

 recommend two varieties. P. tanacetifolia 

 alba, presenting a very remarkable appearance 

 from the strings of whitish flowers that appear 

 to have just unrolled, the long, black hairs 

 with which it is covered, and the singular sta- 

 mens, which project far beyond the corolla of 

 the flowers. P. congesta is somewhat less robust, not so hairy, and flowers light blue. 



